Form-grading and pressing machines for roadways



Sept. 8, 1959 v. scHlAvl 2,902,908

FORM-GRADING AND PRESSING MACHINES FOR ROADWAYS 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. l2, 1955 V. SCHIAVI Sept. 8, 1959 2,902,908

A FORM-GRADING AND PREssING MACHINES FOR RoADwAYs Filed Jan. 12. 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 2,902,908 FORM-GRADING AND PREssING MACHINES FORRoADwAYs Filed Jan. 12, 1955 V. SCHIAVI Sept. s, 1959 9 Shee'ts-Sheet 3I INVENTOR Piace/zi' 'cz'ar,

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`FORM-GRADRNG AND' PRESSING MACHINES FOR ROADWAYS Filed Jan. 12, 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Sept- 8, 1959 v. scHlAvl 2,902,908

FORM-GRADING AND PREssING MACHINES FOR RoADwAYs Filed Jan. l2. 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Pine/ ,swan/5 Sept. 8, 1959 v. scHlAvl 2,902,903

FORM-GRADING AND PREssING MACHINES FOR RoADwAYs Filed Jan. 12, 1955@sheets-sheet e ff f5#- f( wel] .96 f5 ff gaz 1N VENTOR if 5% if Sept.8, 1959 v. scHlAvl 2,902,908

FORM-GRADING AND PRESSING MACHINES FOR ROADWAYS Filed Jan. 12,*1955 9sheets-sheet 7 INVENTOR MMWR y Sept 8, 1959 v. scl-nAvl 2,902,908

FORM-GRADING AND PRESSING MACHINES FOR ROADWAYS Bf f/ylb Sept. 8, 1959v. scHlAvl 2,902,908

FORM-GRADING AND PRESSING MACHINES FOR ROADWAYS Filed Jan. 12., 1955 9Sheets-Sheet 9 FORM-GRADING AND PRESSING MACHINES FR` ROADWAYS VincentSchiavi, Wilmington, Del., assignor to The Formgrading and Press MachineCorporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationJanuary 12, 1955, Serial No. 481,317

1l Claims. (Cl. 94-39) The instant invention relates to a road-buildingmachine and more particularly to what may be designated as aform-grading and pressing machine.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the construction of amobile device of the character indicated that will prepare that portionof the road bed on which the forms are placed which serve to conne theplastic concrete mix used in building roads.

Still another aim is the making of a form-grading and pressing machinecomprising a supporting vehicle, preferably self-propelled, having meansfor scarifying, compacting and levelling, in a substantially continuousmanner, that portion of the road bed on which the concrete-confningforms are placed.

Yet a further purpose is the formation of a self-pro'- pelled apparatusof the above-described type having uidoperated mechanism controlled byone or more operators on the vehicle, which will be ellicient inoperation and serve to conserve both labor and materials, and willexpedite the placing of road forms in an eticient mechanical manner andsupplant the present ineicient manual procedure now followed inperforming this operation.

Cement concrete construction requires the placing of forms, usuallymetal, at various depths and widths to confine the fluid concrete whenit is placed on the road bed. At the present time, a form-setting crewis employed to place such forms. Such a crew employing hand implementsand relying on manual labor frequently is unable to keep ahead of thecrew depositing the plastic concrete between the forms, resulting indelay or stoppage; Further, the grade is often not uniformly compactedso that the forms either sink or tilt resulting in unsatisfactoryoperation.

The diiculties set out in the preceding paragraphs are obviated by theinstant invention as will be apparent from the detailed descriptionhereinafter appearing when taken in conjunction with the appendeddrawings forming a part hereof to which attention is now directed and inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the instantinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view rearwardly of the steering wheel;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of the right side of the machine on alarger scale than Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational View of the left side of the machine on alarger scale than Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is :a plan view of Fig. 8;

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view on line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1l is a horizontal sectional view on line 11--11 of Fig. showingthe scarier;

Fig. 12 is a Avertical sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

nitedf rates, Patent O V2,902,908 Patented Sept. 8, 1959 Fig. 13 is avertical sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Fig. l2;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional vieW of the pivotal connection at theupper left corner of the frame;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 15--15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view of the adjustable connectionbetween the vertical and horizontal frame members at the rear of themachine;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal sectional View of a grade line pointer taken online 17-17 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 18 is a sectional View through a pressure beam taken on line 18-18of Fig. 5;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic piping system.

My form and grading mechanism may be mounted on various types of wellknown self-propelled or otherwise actuated road working machines. In thedrawings I have shown the skeleton of such a road working machine havinga chassis 20, drive wheels 2l, a front steering wheel 22 and a forwardmold board 23. I have not shown details, such as the driving mechanismof the vehicle, as such features form no part of the present invention.

Secured to the chassis 20 and extending laterally thereof justrearwardly of the mold board 23 is a fixed horizontal tube 25 having acentral section ZSa from which depend two vertical frame supports 26.Certain parts are secured to the lower ends of these supports which willbe later described in detail. Sliding in the iixed tube 25 are two tubes27, one extending from each end of the tube 25 and each having its outerend connected to a side frame member 23 of my improved device. The tubes25 and 27 are thus telescopic and provide means for varying the Width ofthe front of the.

machine.

Spaced longitudinally extending channels 3l) are attached to the rear ofthe chassis 20, said channels connected at their rear ends by atransverse member 31, providing a frame structure constituting aplatform 32 carrying an air compressor 33 and other mechanism. Risingfrom the platform 32 are three spaced uprights 34 supporting at theirupper ends a fixed horizontal transverse tube 35 similar to the tube 25.Telescoping tubes 36 slide in the tube 35 and project one from each endthereof, and at their outer ends each tube 36 is connected to a sideframe member 28. Thus, when the tubes 27 and 36 are moved by hydraulicor other means,v

relative to tubes 25 and 35, respectively, the width of the machine isvaried.

Each side frame member 2S preferably is formed of three sections, a mainsection 37 extending longitudinally of the machine, and two shortersections 38, each bolted, or otherwise fastened at one end to an end ofthe main section, see Fig. 5. Secured to the other end of each section38 is a collar 39 and tixedly mounted in each collar is a tube 27 or 36.It will be understood that the construction at each corresponding cornerof the machine is the sarne so a description of one will apply equallyto both. A pin 40, Fig. 14, passes through each collar and its relatedtube so that there is no movement between the two. A pair of ears 41,Fig. 8, are welded to tubes 25 and 35 near the outer end of each tube,and a cylinder 42 is pivotally connected by a pin 43 to each pair ofears. Other ears 44, Fig. l5, are welded to each collar 39 and each pairhas pivoted thereto by a pin 45, a piston rod 46 connected to a piston(not lshown) sliding in a cylinder 42, Figs. 14 and 15. It will be nowunderstood that when fluid is supplied to either end of each cylinderthe width of the machine will be varied through the movement of thetelescoping tubes. By having the tubes at each end alike and the cornerconnections between the tubes and side frame members the same, a rigidstructure is provided, and one in which the cost is minimized.

A vertical telescoping tube unit 49 is provided at each corner of themachine, said tube unit comprising a lower outer tube 50 and an uppervinner tube 51,` Fig. 6. A plate 52 is welded to the top of tube 51 andintegral withthe plate are ears 53. A sleeve 54 is welded to the undersurface of collar 39 and a pin 55 passes through this sleeve and theears 53 forming a pivotal connection between the collar and the verticaltelescoping' tube 49. A cylinder 56 is pivotally connected to the frameof the road machine at 57 and a piston rod 58 of a piston (not shown)sliding in cylinder 56 is pivoted to the lower tube 50 as at 59. Whenfluid is admitted to either end of the cylinder it will cause the pistonto move and swing the vertical tube 49 about the pivot 55. Y

A press or road-tamping beam 65, Fig. 18, extends longitudinally on eachside of the machine, each beam being secured to the bottom end of afront` and rear tube 50 for pressing the ground and compacting it toreceive the forms used in concrete road construction. The beam consistsof an I-beam 66 having a replaceable shoe 67 held by nuts and bolts 68to the undersurface of the lower flange of the l-beam. This shoe is thepart that comes into contact with the ground being pressed, and ismade'easily replaceable because of wear. Vertical plates 69 are secured,as by welding or the like, between the upper and lower flanges of theI-beam to form a box-like structure and each plate has a series ofcutout places 70 to allow easy access to the nuts 68. To prevent earthand stones from getting into these cutonts, slidable channel plates 71,having slots 72, are secured to the plates 69 by bolts 73 and nuts 74.When the machine is operating the plates 71 are in their loweredposition, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 18, but when it isdesired to get to the nuts 68 the plates 71 are raised, as shown in fulllines in Fig. 18, and held there by the nuts 74. In lieu of welding,press beam 65 may be formed of cast steel as a unit.

At each front corner of the machine is a hollow tube 80, pivoted to theframe of the road machine at 81, adjacent to the pivot 57. A tube 82slides in a tube 80 and, ir'i turn, is pivoted to the press frame at 83.At each rear corner a tube 84 telescopes into a tube 80 and has anarticulated connection to the press frame which will now be described.

A plate 85 is welded to each tube 84 and carries a nut 86 through whichis threaded a rod 87 having a hand wheel 88 at its outer end. At itsinner end the rod has a flange 89. A channel member 90 is secured to thepress beam and the ange 89 is held loosely in the channel against axialmovement by ribs 91 (see Fig. 16). It will readily be seen that byturning hand wheel 88 the tubes 84 can be adjusted relative to the pressbeam.

VTo provide the pressure for the press beams, cylinders 95, Fig. 5, arepivotally connected to each beam one near its front and rear edges, anda piston rod 96 is pivotally connected at 97 to the` correspondin-gplate 52. The piston rod is connected to a piston (not shown) in thecylinder 95, and when iiuid is forced into the lower end of the cylinderit will cause relative movement between it and the piston, thus applyingpressure to the press beam 65 and will compact the earth. If desired avibrator 98y may be mounted on each press beam as indicated in Fig. land is iuid operated and controlled by a Valve 99, the latter having anoperating handle 100 and being connected to fluid tank 101 by a pipe102. The vibrator will help pack the earth more tightly especially ifstones are mixed with it.

A scaritier indicated generally by numeral `105, Figs. 11 and 12, may bebuilt into the front end of each press beam, the teeth of which may tearup the surface of the ground as the machine is moved forward from oneposition to the next, to permit the press beam to pack the ground firmerand smoother. I

The scariier includes three vertically movable teeth, one tooth 106being located on the vertical longitudinal axis of the press beam andthe other two teeth 107 being located on either side of the axis as mayybe seen in Fig. 11. The center web of the I-beam 66 may be cut away asat 108 in Fig. 12 to provide space for the tooth 106, and a sleeve 108',welded to the I-beam, serves as a gui-de for the tooth.V Similar sleevesmay serve as guides for the other teeth. Each tooth is pointed andsharpened at its lower end 109 so as to easily scar the ground.

A threaded rod 110 is positioned above the press beam 65 and hasV a ange1111 rotatably mounted in a bearing 112 Welded on the top of I-beam 66.A nut 113 is threaded on rod and has an arm 114 extending laterally fromeither side (see Fig. 11), an open frame 115 being being fastened to theouter end of each arm. A third frame 115 extends forwardly from the nut,and the upper end of each tooth is secured in a frame 115 by a pin 116.A handle 117 is attached to the end of rod 110 and it will readily beseen that as the rod is rotated by the handle, the nut 1'13 will beraised or lowered and through the frames 1-15 will raise or lower theteeth 106 and 107. As will be seen by the dotted lines in Fig. 12, thelower ends 109 of the teeth may be brought within the contines of thepress beam 65 when not in use or when the machine is moved from place toplace. A plate 118 closes the front end of the press beam, being weldedto the horizontal anges of I-beam 66.

To make sure that the road being worked is at proper grade, a line 120is secured to stakes 121 driven into the road bed by surveyors. Mountedon each tube 50 is a frame 122, having a threaded rod 123 rotatablyjournalled therein. Nuts 124 are threaded on the rod and welded -to thenuts is a tube or hollow rod 125. A pin 126 is adjustably secured in therod 125 by a set screw 127 to cooperate with line 120. The pin is urgedforwardly against an edge 128 of the frame 122 by a `spring 129 but mayswing rearwardly without damage if it hits a stake 121 or some otherobstruction.

After the line 120 has been set at the proper grade, the rods 123 arerotated until the pins 126 slightly touch the lines which shows theoperator that the ground must not be packed down so as to cause thelines to curve downwardly. Levels 130 may be provided at the top of themachine attached to plate 52 and located near the operators stands 135,so that each operator can tell at all times if the machine is properlypositioned.

An operators stand is provided on each side of the machine, above therear wheels thereof, and is supported in any well known manner from theside frame member 28.

Also supported on these frame members are a series of valves adapted tobe controlled by the operators on the stands. In Fig. 19, I have shown adiagrammatic view of the uid control system including all cylinders andtheir control valves.

A motor drives a pump 141 connected to a reservoir 142. Extending fromeither side of the pump is a pipe 143 connected to a reserve tank 144,the latter, in turn, supplying fluid to one of the valves controllingthe various cylinders. As shown in Fig. 19 each cylinder 42 iscontrolled by a valve 145, each cylinder 56 by la valve 146, and eachcylinder 95 by a valve 147. These valves are standard items, each havingan operating handle 148, and need not be described in detail. Variouslevels and gauges may also be employed to measure uid pressures and tothus indicate the degree to which that part of the road bed beingtreated has been compacted, as will be understood.

In operation, after the line 120 has been set at the proper grade, thevalves 145 and 146 are actuated to bring presser beam 65 into positioneither on one or both sides of the machine. Also, the scarier 105 may ormay not be used, as desired. If employed, forward movement of themachine into position with the presser or road-tamping beams oi theground has scaritied that portion of the road bed which is to be gradedand pressed. Actuation of valve 147 now causes cylinder 95 to rforcepresser beam into contact with the scaried road bed. Handle 100 may thenbe operated to bring vibrator 98 into play. This is continued until pin126 contacts line 120, showing that the work is complete and the machinethen moves forwardly to repeat the operation; the forward movement beingsuch that the rear end of the presser beam slightly overlaps a completedportion of the form bed. A crew now places the forms l150 on the treatedroad bed 151 and each form will be on a uniform well-compacted base atthe proper level and in proper upright position.

It will be apparent that the machine is symmetrical along a longitudinalaxis; that in addition to the driver of the machine at the front, thereis an operator on each stand 135, an operator controlling one side ofthe machine, that is, one press beam 65. If desired, only one press beammay be rendered operative and the operator by Watching the fluidpressure gauges, levels, line 120, pins 126, when controlling valves145, 146, 147 and vibrator control handle 100, will bring that portionof the road bed 151 being treated to a proper level, compacted conditionfor receiving forms 150.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A form-grading and pressing machine comprising a vehicle for movementalong a road bed, a frame member carried by the vehicle, said framemember supporting an elongated road-tamping beam on a side of thevehicle substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, guidemeans on the vehicle mounting the frame-supporting member for movementlaterally of the vehicle, and power means carried by theframe-supporting member and secured to the beam to move the latterdownwardly vertically moving said teeth as a unit relatively to saidbeam.

5. A form-grading and pressing machine comprising a vehicle for movementalong a road bed, means telescopically supporting an elongatedroad-tamping beam on a side of the vehicle substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis thereof, said supporting means comprising a tube fixedto the vehicle and a telescopic tube carried by the rst tube and movablelaterally of the vehicle, a side frame member secured to the movabletube, a verticallyextending tube hinged to the frame member, a secondtube telescopically movable in said hinged tube, said roadtamping beamsecured to said second tube, and hydraulic means on the vehicle forselectively actuating the movable one of each set of tubes.

6. The structure of claim 5, and grade indicating means carried by saidsecond tube.

7. The structure of claim 5, .said road-tamping beam comprising anI-beam and a tamping shoe removably secured to the lower ange of saidI-beam.

8. The structure of claim 5, and grade-indicating means carried by saidsecond tube, said grade-indicating means comprising avertically-adjustable l-aterally-extending pointer.

9. The structure of claim 5, and grade-indicating means carried by saidsecond tube, said grade-indicating means comprising avertically-adjustable laterally-extending pointer, and means forresiliently holding said pointer in operative position.

10. The structure of claim 5, said hydraulic means comprising avalve-controlled pump system.

1l. The structure of claim 5, and a vibrator carried by the road-tampingbeam.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,662,257 Valerio Mar. 13, 1928 1,724,054 Troyer Aug. 13, 1929 1,840,970Noble Ian. 12, 1932 1,970,391 Nickerson Aug. 14, 1934 1,987,398 GardinerIan. 8, 1935 2,039,078 Hertwig Apr. 28, 1936 2,128,889 Allen Sept. 6,1938 2,132,059 Trembly Oct. 4, 1938 2,245,426 Baker June 10, 19412,732,197 Cornett lan. 24, 1956 2,745,326 Green May 15, 1956

